This study analyzed the role of the young population as a coping mechanism on the mental health of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Cross River State, Nigeria. The purpose was to assess the level of youth involvement in psychosocial support, determine the influence of youth-led activities on emotional well-being, and identify challenges faced by youths in promoting mental health among PLWHA. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 300 respondents (150 PLWHA and 150 youth volunteers) selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire titled Youth Involvement and Mental Health Coping Questionnaire (YIMHCQ), which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.84. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson Product Moment Correlation) were used for analysis.Findings revealed a high level of youth involvement in psychosocial and mental health support activities (overall mean = 3.33, SD = 0.87), a strong positive influence of youth-led initiatives on emotional well-being and coping mechanisms among PLWHA (overall mean = 3.37, SD = 0.84), and major challenges such as stigma, lack of training, and limited funding (overall mean = 3.33, SD = 0.83). The inferential analysis showed a significant positive relationship between youth involvement and mental health of PLWHA (r = 0.68, p < .05). The study concludes that structured youth participation enhances resilience, reduces emotional distress, and promotes adaptive coping among PLWHA.Counselling implications emphasize the integration of youth-led psychosocial support into community-based HIV/AIDS programs, the need for capacity-building for youth volunteers, and the inclusion of counsellors in developing youth-friendly mental health interventions